Caster



, J. J. FRIEND.

CASTER. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 19. 1920.

I Patented. May 31, 192 1.

I l,380,05%.g

' eeonsa,

entree stares learnerorrice.

JACOB J. FRIEND, or nvnnnr'r, massaonnsnrrs.

To all whomc't may concern: 7

Be it known that T, JACOB J. FRIEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Gasters, of which the following is a specification, reference being'had to. the accompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to certain improvements in casters, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character embodying an assembly including a ball and a mounting for said ball constituting a cup or bowl adapted to contain a suitable compound or solution repugnant to insect life to prevent insects from traveling over the. caster upon the furniture to which the caster is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved caster or" this general character including a .cup or bowl serving as a mounting for a ball, said bowl or cup being adapted to contain a compound or solution poisonous to insect lite and wherein is associated with said bowl or cup a ring operating to prevent splashing out of the compound or solution within the bowl or cup and particularly upon movement of the furniture to which the caster is applied or in applying such compound or solution within the cup or bowl.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved caster of this general character embodying a mounting for a ball wherein a retaining ring is employed for holding said ball against dis placement when in applied position.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts oi my improved caster whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simplenless expensive and otherwise more convenient andv advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my. invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a caster constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Fig, 2 is a view partly in side elevation Specification of Letters .Tr'atent.

and partly in section of the caster as herein disclosed.

Fig. 3 is a'transverse sectional view taken through the retaining member or ring illustrated in the preceding figures, and

p I Patented May3L1921. Application filed October 19,1920, Serial No. 418,076. r

Fig. l is a sectional view of a modified form of my retaining member or ring. As disclosed in the accompanylng drawings, denotes a shank or stem adapted to be inserted in a conventional manner in a socket'carried' by an article of furniture-or the like. In thepresent embodimentofmy invention, this shank or stem S is tubular or hollow with its outer end closed and with its opposite end portion defined by an outstanding flange 1 adapted to be spot welded or otherwise secured to the upper convex facev aof the central concavo-convex portion 2 constltuting the bottom. of the cup or bowl C. The side wall 3 of the cup or bowl C is of a height to terminate above the high point of the bottom wall or concave-convex portion 2 so that said cup or bowl C may contain a considerable amount of a compound or solution poisonous'to insect lite.

' The margin of the bottom wall or portion 2 is defined by a shoulder 4, the outer margin of which shoulder is defined by. a depending annular wall 5: straight in cross section.

A. ball of glass or other desired material. partially seats within the chamber afforded 2ythe concave face of the bo-ttom wall or portion 2, the portion of the ball B extending within said chamber being preferably less than one-half of said ball in order to facilitate the requisite assembly.

It denotes anannular band or retaining ring which, after the ball Bhas been assembled with respect to the cup or bowl Q'frictionally engages the straight wall 51 and abuts the shoulder 41 Theband or ring'R is of a width to have its lower or exposed marginal portion terminate below the center of the ball B; As is clearly illustrated in Fig."2, it is to be noted that the ring R telescopically engages within the lower portion of the cup or bowl C or more particularly that portion defined by the wall '5.

This is of particular advantage because in the band or ring R is defined by an inwardly directed flange 6 which closely approaches the surface or periphery of the ball B, whereby an effective means is afiorded, to hold said ball 13} against displacement from working or applied position. However, when it is desired to remove said ball, it is only necessary to withdrawthe band or ring R and which operation may be accomplished with a minimum of effort, although it is to be understood that normally the band or 1 ring it engages the straight wall 4; in such a manner to prevent accidental displacement of said ring or band.

In Fig. 4: 1 illustrate a modified form of retaining band or ring and wherein said band or ring R has its lower or exposed edge defined by a plurality of circumferentially disposed and inwardly directed prongs or lugs 7, adjacent prongs or lugs 7 being spaced. The spaces between the prongs or lugs 7 permit the ready escape or discharge of dust or other foreign matter which may be carried up within the chamber afforded by the concave face of the bottom wall of the bowl or cup.

A denotes an annular member removably engaged within the upper. portion of the cup or bowl C. This member A embodies an inwardly and downwardly curved plate 8 overlying the peripheral marginal portion of the cup or bowl C. The outer edge of the plate 8 is defined by an inwardly directed flange 9, the outer portion of which is inwardly offset, as at 10, to frictionally engage within the top or open end of the cup or bowl G, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. This offset portion 10 also provides an annular shoulder 11 which abuts the free or outer edge of the wall of the cup or bowl C whereby is limited the insertion of the flange 10 of the annular member A within the bowl or cup C. This annular member A serves to prevent splashing of the poison one compound or solution arranged within the cup or bowl C outwardly from said cup or bowl and particularly during the periods when the furniture or the like to which the caster is applied is being moved from one location to another.

As is particularly illustrated in Fig. 2, it is to be noted that there is a certain degree of play between the top of the ball B and the concave face of the bottom wall or por tion 2 of the cup or bowl C so that when the caster is in contact with the floor or other surface and the top of the ball is against said concave face, an open space is provided substantially entirely around the ball to permit accumulation of dirt or the like to readily escape so that such accumulation will not obstruct or hinder the requisite revolving of the ball.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a caster constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and. for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

l: claim:

1. A caster comprising a bowl having its bottom face concave, a shank extending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom of the bowl, the outer marginal portion of the bowl being defined by a depending wall, a ball extending within the bowl, and a retaining ring telescoping within and engageable with the depending wall of the bowl and coacting with the ball to hold the ball in applied position.

.2. A- caster comprising a bowl having its bottom face concave, a shank extending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom of the bowl, the marginal portion of said bowl being defined by an outstanding shoulder, the outer margin of said shoulder Icing defined by a depending wall, a ball extending within the bowl, and a retaining ring telescoping within and engageable with the depending wall of the bowl and coacting with the ball to hold the ball in applied position, the contact of said ring with the shouldcr limiting the movement of the ring in one direction when in applied position, said retaining ring frictionally engaging the depending wall of the bowl, the lower edge of said ring extending inwardly.

3. A caster comprising a bowl having its bottom wall concavo-convex with the convex face upwardly disposed, the side wall of the bowl being of a height to terminate above the high point of the concavo-convex bottom wall of the bowl, a shank secured to the convex'face of the bottom wall of the bowl, and a ball extending within the concave face of the bottom wall of the bowl.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JACOB J. FRIEND. 

